Patient abandonment?

[nurseontheway]

If a technician is assigned to a group of patients and just leaves in the middle of their shift without permission is this considered patient abandonment? Does it depend on the state that you live in or the field that you work in?

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Tech as in CNA?

[nurseontheway]

In dialysis.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Sounds like it, but you might want to ask the attorney here. What's the story?

[MunoRN, RN]

It varies by state, but typically Dialysis techs don't have establish a legal responsibility for a patient in the same way a nurse does, so 'patient abandonment' doesn't really apply. The general legal charge of Reckless Endangerment could still apply however depending on the circumstances.